Friday Email Bag

Each Friday I publish your comments and answer your questions. To submit a comment or questions please email me at [email protected]

Mickey,

I want to believe that the Clemson defense will be again be one of the best in the country, but I find it hard to swallow simply because of the amount of talent leaving. We saw this last year with the offense. We lost a great college quarterback, great wide receiver, and good offensive tackles. We saw what the offense could and couldn’t be at the mercy of an injury at quarterback. I’m concerned it’s the same way for our linebackers next year. They are the quarterbacks of defense. We have been blessed the past few seasons to have quality starters and backups. While I have confidence in our starters, the players behind them are another question. Coach Venables said as much a couple of weeks ago when he stated a linebacker injury could make this unit a liability.

I expect this defensive unit to get much better and work out the kinks as the season goes along much like the defensive squad in 2013. Coach Venables will be able squeeze out the potential as he has shown in the past. I expect this defense will land somewhere in between the 2013 and 2014 squads. If the offense is as good as we think they will be I would say that has the makings of a pretty good season. Lets hope those kinks can get worked out before that Thursday night game in the Ville. Go Tigers!

Matt

Matt,

I don't think Clemson will be one of the best defenses in the country, but I don't think you will see a huge drop off like we saw at South Carolina last season.

You are right about the offense, but when Watson was in the game it didn't look like a big drop off to me. In fact, it looked better.

My biggest concerns on defense are about a pass rush and getting to the quarterback. So much of the game now is about making the quarterback uncomfortable. I think Venables is going to have to be creative in creating a pass rush.

Mickey,

The chrome helmets are not needed ever. The Clemson uniform is great looking and needs to stay that way at all times. Hopefully, some 5 star player has got enough brains to pick a school because of the football program and academics and not the uniform. I find most of these "cool" uniforms to be just plain ugly and to be somewhat ridiculous looking. Some of these uniforms are so unusual you can not even determine what the school colors are supposed to be.

The bottom line is just leave the uniforms alone. The consistent uniform allows the fans to bond to the team. I personally would have trouble aligning with a team like Oregon because the team I pulled for last week looks nothing like the team on the field this week.

Jack

Jack,

I see both sides of the argument and tend to agree slightly with your side. I do think it would be OK for just one game a year. But if Clemson wore pink and purple paisley I would still be a Tiger.

Mickey,

I know it is only late April but please tell me who do you you think will round out the rest of the football recruiting class for 2016. Don't sit on the fence. Let me know some projections.

Thanks. Go Tigers.

Sarah

Sarah,

As long as you don't hold me accountable and I can change my mind tomorrow, here is what I can see this class finishing out with. They are done at quarterback, running back and tight end. I think one more wide receiver is in the cards and at this point I would say Diondre Overton is the leading candidate for that spot. I would look for three more offensive linemen. Those with the highest chance to sign if today was signing day include John Simpson, Clark Yarborough, Peter Boudreaux, Will Fries and Jack DeFoor. I can see two more defensive tackles and that group could come from Nyles Pickney, Dexter Lawrence, Rashan Gary and Julian Rochester. At linebacker there is room for maybe one more and Tre Lamar is number one on the board. Defensive end is tough. They would like to take one but at this point I don't have a leading candidate there. The same can be said for cornerback. Because they are taking only one, the staff is being very patient and selective here as well. Hope this helps and remember I can still change my mind next week.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

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